Magazine feed mechanism for machine guns



July 2, 1929. c, F F Er AL 1,719,127

MAGAZINE FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Aug. 29, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/entars L'hn'sb'an Pfeifier Frederic/r T/ flmre July 2, 1929 c, PFElFFER Er AL 1 719.12?

MAGAZINE FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Aug. 29, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Fig. 7

Christa? Pfszfisr Frederik/r T/Vaara July :2, 1929 c, PFEIFFER Er AL 1,719,127

MAGAZINE FEED MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Aug. 29, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 M Fig/0 hand-02's Christ/2527 Pfefifer Frsdsnia r T/Vbare lfatented July 2, 19 29.

UNITED: sraraslraraur OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN PFEHFER, OF HARTFORD, AND FREDERICK T. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNCBS TO COLT'S PATENT FIRE moons, on EAST HARTFORD, ARMS MANUFACTURING cou- PANY, CF HARTFORE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MAGAZINE FEED MECHANISM; FOR MACHINE GUNS.

, ac-mama August a, 1927. Serial .No. 216,167.

A mechanism embodying the invention is similar in many respects to that disclosed in our copendin application for magazine feed mechanism or machine gun, 'berial .No. 182,070 filed April 8, 1927, and it includes a feed box or magazine adapted to readily at'-.

tached to or removed from an automatic. ma-

tridge feed belt which is withdrawn there -from by means of the. mechanism of the gun.

A magazine -,embodying thef invention, .set: forth in the said application is adapted ,tobe attached to ora'emoved-from the gun a t the 7 top thereof and means are provided forguiding the feed -belt.- froni- ;tlie, magazine tothe feed channel ofthe gun. v

One of the objects of the preseiit invention is to provide a feed boxer magazine of the type described havingfa-longitudinal opening therein through which the gun may be,

sight-ed, thesaid openingbeingentirely surpounded by the spaeeforgthe cartridge .fee'd elt. I 1 '.I I

Another object of the invention :is to-provide a magazine of the type described adapted to permit-the cartridge feed belt to be initially wound upon a cylindrical drum from which it is unwound as firing takes place, the

said drum havinga central opening corresponding to the aperture through the feed box or magazine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved meansfor enabling the magazine to be put in place or removed by the use of only one hand of the gunner.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improved details of construction for the mechanism which guides and actuates the feed belt in its movement from the magazine to the gun.

Further objects of the invention are to provide certain improved-details of construction and mounting such as Wlll be clear from the following specification and claims. a

In the accompanying drawings we have shown the embodiment of the invention which we now deem preferable, ,butit will be understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a art of this specification being relied upon f r that purpose.

Of the drawings; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the magazine forming a view being taken from the front.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from't-he rear.

Fig.,3 is a open position.

Fig.4 is a perspective view of the belt carrying spool forming a part of the magazine.

Fig. 5 isa view similar to Fig. 4 but showingthe spoolwith a cartridge feed belt in place thereona I Fig. 6 is a combined sectional and elevational view taken from the left and showing a portion of a, gun with parts of the feed mechanism attached thereto, this view showin the magazine in one of the positions which 1t occupies when being placed upon the gun. The portions of this figure shown in section are taken along the line 66 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 7 is a combined sectional and elevational view in some respects similar to Fig. 6 but showing the magazine in its normal position of assembly with respect to the gun. The portions of this figure shown in sections are taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 19.

Fig-8 is a view also similar to Fig. 6 but showing the parts in the position which they take when the cover of the gun is raised.

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a detent mechanism for holding the gun cover in the position shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. .10, 11 and 12 are plan, side and end views respectively of the saddle which is secured to the cover of the gun and which supports the magazine engaging bracket. The section in Fig. 11 is taken along the line 1111 of Fig. 12.

Figs. 13 and 14 are plan and side views respectively of the bracket which is connected with the saddle.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are plan, side and end views respectively of the cartridge guide bracket which is secured to the gun and which cooperates with a part of the saddle to form a guide channel from the magazine to the feed channel of the gun.

part of the feed mechanism, this of the magazine,

perspective view of the magazine similar to Fig. 2 but showing the rear cover in Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view taken from the front and showing the several parts of the feed mechanism in assembled relationship,

7, this view showing the end of the feed belt in the position which it occupies when the magazine is first placed in its final operative po sition.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 19 but showing the actuating pawl in position to engage the belt.

Fig. 21 is another fragmentary view similar to Fig. 19 but showing the end of the feed belt in operative position in the feed channel of the gun.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 5 thereof, it will be observed that the magazine 1 has a longitudinal aperture 2 therein extending between the front and rear walls 3 and 4 thereof. This aperture is of sufficient size to conveniently permit the sight ing of the gun therethrough. The purpose of the aperture 2 in the magazine is to permit the I sighting of the gun in the usual manner without the necessity for providinghighly elevat-" ed sights which are objectionable. A mag azine embodying the present invention may be used upon combat aeroplanes and for this class of service it is desirable to provide a relatively wide sighting range in orderthat' the gun may be trained a considerable distance in advance of an opposing aeroplane along the path of movement thereof. ()b-- viously in order to permit the gun to be used I as described, the sighting aperture 2 in the magazine must be relatively wide in order not to obstruct the view of the gunner.

The casing of the magazine comprises concentric outer and inner cylindrical walls 5 and 6, the front and rear walls 3 and 4 being annular in shape to substantially register with the edges of the said outer and inner cylindrical walls. In order that access may be had to the interior of the casing one of the transverse end walls, ordinarily the rear end walls 4, is relatively movable, preferably being hinged at 7 for movement about a transverse horizontal axis. A latch 8 is provided for holding the wall 4 in closed position.

The space in the casing surrounding the aperture 2 is adapted for containing a cartridge feed belt, this belt preferably being carried by a removable drum or spool 9 such as shown in Fig. 4. The spool 9 is adapted to be placed in the annular space between the walls 5 and 6 of the magazine easing, the said spool having a body portion 10 which is adapted to surround and rotatably engage the casing wall 6. includes flanges 11 and 12 secured to the body portion 10 and adapted to support a cartridge elt when wound upon the spool as shown in particularly The spool 9 preferably also inner end-of the belt. .Also, in order to-tcmporarily hold the cartridge belt in place on the spool prior to the insertion of the spool into the casing, one of the flanges, as for instance the flange 11, is provided with a notch 14- adapted to receive the cartridge at the outer or-forward end of the beltas clearly shown in Fig. 5. r

In order that the cartridge belt may be fed or withdrawn from the magazine into the gun as will presently be described in detail .the magazine is provided-at one side, as for instance the left side with aguide channel which substantially tangential with the outer cylindrical wall5. The parts forming the guide channel are indicated at 15 being shown most clearly in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the'gnide channel extends directly downward terminating at approximately the level of the lower part'of'thecasing. The inner wall ofthe guide channel is formed with a notch 15" for a purpose to be described.- Preferably thefmntand rear-walls 3 and 4 of the casing are extended laterally to cover the guide channel. f

In loading the magazine the belt is .first wound upon'thespooland the last cartridge of the belt is-entered =in the notch 14 asshown inFig: 5. Then the-loaded spool is placed in the casing with the first cartridge immediately above the entrance to the guide channel 15. The said first cartridge is then released from the notch 14 and the spool is turned slightly in the counter-clockwise direction to cause-the end'of the belt to enter the guide channel. Preferably a springpressed pivoted latch 16 is provided for en gaging the portion of the belt in the guide channel 15 in order to prevent the movement of the belt outward through the guide channel prior to the placement of the magazine on the This latch is at the rear of the transverse central plane of the magazine as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thesaid latch must be manually held out of its operative position while the belt is being entered in the guide .channel as before described. The action of to cooperate with parts carried by the gun as will presently be-described. Having now described the magazine proper we will now proceed with a description of the arts of the mechanism which are carried by t 1e gun and which are adapted to cooperate with the magazine when t e ma azine is in place on the gun. Reference wi be had particularly to Figs. 6 to 18.

The elements of the feed mechanism which are mounted upon the gun are preferabl en-- tirely additional to the gun itself invo ving little or no chan e in the gun structure. a The 5 gun illustrated in the drawings is substantially the same as that shown in the Browning patent for automatic machine gun, No. 1,293, 021 dated February 4, 1919, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to feed channel in the gun and also the cartridge extracting and firing mechanism. The gun has the usual transverse feed slide-25, (shown in Fig. 19), the slide'being provided with a spring-pressed pawl 26 which engages the successive cartridges to give the feed belt a step by-step movement from left to right as the gun is fired. A pivoted pawl 27 is rovided to prevent any movement of the It in the reverse direction. This pawl is mounted on a longitudinal pin 28 held in a bracket 29.

In accordance with the present invention the magazine proper is adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and the parts are preferably so constructed that the magazine is first engaged at its lower rear corner as indicated in Fig. 6 and then swung downward and forward to its operative position. as shown in Fig. 7. The magazine is su ported on the cover 23 of the cover is raised as shown in ig. 8 the magazine I is swung forward. Preferably in order to more securely hold the cover and the magazine in the raised position as shown in Fig. 8 the gun is provided with a spring pressed detent 30 which engages a notch 31 in the hinge portion of the cover23 so as to assist in hold ing the cover in raised position.

For engaging the magazine and connecting it with the gun there is provided a saddle 32 shown in detail in Figs. 10 to 12 and a cradle 33 shown in detail in Figs. 13 and 14. The saddle is directly connected to the cover 23 and the cradle is pivotally connected with the saddle at the rear end thereof.

- The saddle 32 is preferably formed of sheet metal havin a main body portion which extends over t e top of the gun cover 23 and having side flanges 34, 34 which extend down ward at the two sides of the cover. The said side flanges 34, 34 are provided respectively with rearward extensions having lips 35, 35

an and w en the,

which extendunder thee d es of the cover .to assist in holding the sadd e in place; The

forward portions of the flanges 34, 34 haye connected to them blocks 36, 36 and the said flanges and blocks are provided with holes 37,

37 adapted to receive the end portions of the pivot pin 24 which connects the cover 23 with the breech casing. The main body of the saddle is provided with a semi-cylindrical upward extension 38 at the rear end thereof.

The cradle 33 is preferably formed of sheet metal having a portion 39 which extends transversely from one side to the other and having side flanges 40, 40. Each of'the side flanges 40, 40 includes an upward extension 40 and a leg 40 which extends rearward adjaeent and at the outer side of the correspondmg flange 34 of the saddle. The flanges 40, 40 carry pivot studs 41, 41 which project into and fit the semi-cylindrical extension 38 on the saddle and the said legs are also provided withlips 42, 42 which engage the outer surface of the said extension 38. Thus the pins 41, 41 prevent rearward movement of the cradle with respect to the saddle and the lips 42, 42 prevent forward movement, the said studs and lips cooperating to provide a true pivotal connection. A pin 43 extends transversely ofthe cradle this pin having a flattened surface on the bottom as indicated at 43,. The bracket is further provided with -a laterall projecting pin or stud 44 the pur ose 0 which will presently be described.

henthe magazine is to be-put in place on the gun .it is first engaged at its lower rear corner with the saddle. The construction of the hinge at 7 is such that the said hinge can extend into and fit the semi-cylindrical extension 38 of the saddle as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The magazine is then swung downward to the position shown in Fig. 7, being guided by the elements 19, 19 on the magazine which ht between the flanges 40 40* of the cradle. When in its operative position as shown in Fig. 7 the magazine engages the rear edges of the said upward extending flanges 40", 40* on the cradle. As soon as the magazine reaches its operative position the latch 18 engages the flattened surface 43 on the pin 43 and the magazine is thus automatically locked in place. When the magazine is to be removedthe operator can reach through the opening 2 from the rear to the front thereof and engage the latch 18 to release it. It will be understood that in removing the magazine the operator may grasp the, lower portion thereof with his hand located in the aperture. His thumb will be at the rear and his fingers at the front engaging the latch 18 to hold it in its disengaged position. It is thus possible for the gunner to put the magazine in place or remove it by the use of one hand only.

We have already referred to the tangential guide channel forming a part of the magazine proper and we have also referred to the feed channel of the gun. In order to 'direct or guide the cartridge belt from the guide channel of the magazine to the feed channel of the gun we provide a suitable feed or guide channel similar to principle to that disclosed in our beforementioncd co-pending application. This guide channel on the gun is formed in part by means of the guide bracket shown in 'detail in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. This bracket is adapted to be held in place by means of the pivot pin 28 for the pawl 27 of the gun, this pivot pin extending through apertures 46, 46 in ears 47, '17. The body portion of the bracket is in the form of a curved plate 48 and the said body portion is held in fixed relation with the gun by means of a brace element 49 which extends diagonally downward and inward and engages the breech casing at the side thereof. The bracket is provided with front and rear end walls 50 and 51, the front end wall 50 being formed with an opening 52 to provide clearance for the cartridge belt under certain conditions. The front wall 50 preferably also carries a flange 53 having a slot 54 therein adapted to receive the pin 14 on the bracket 33.

The'left hand flange 31 of the saddle 32 carries alaterally extending plate 55 which is curved upward so as to normally be equi-distant throughout from the body portion or plate 48 of the bracket 45. The two plates 48 and 55 constitute a guide channel 56 extending from the guide channel of the magazine to the feed channel of the gun, a portion of this guide channel being circularly curved. The plate 55 is provided with an extension 57 which serves a purpose to be presently described.

For starting the movement of the cartridge belt out of the magazine through the feed 'channel 56 there is provided a suitable manually operable device. Preferably and as shown this device is carried upon the saddle being in the form of a pawl 58 pivotally mounted at the end of an arm 59. The arm 59 is mounted upon a shaft 60 which is mount- 7 ed in upward extensions 61, 61 at the edges of the plate 55. A crank 62 having an operating knob 63 is secured to the shaft at the rear end thereof. The plate 55 is provided with a slot 61 through which the pawl 58 can extend to engage the cartridge belt. A spring 65 tends to move the pawl downward with respect to the arm 59. A spring 66 on the shaft 60 tends to turn the shaft and the parts connected therewith in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12, thus holding the pawl 58in its lower inner posi-- tion.

The operation of the entire mechanism cannow be described in detail, reference being had particularly to Figs. 19 to 21. As already explained the latch 16 serves to prevent movement of the cartridge belt outward through the feed channel 15 of the magazine,

prior tothe placement of the magazine on the gun. The magazine is put in place and latched as alread described inconnection with Figs. 6 an 7. When the magazine reaches its normal operative position thelatch 16 is engaged by the extension 57 on the plate 55 and is moved to its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 19. This releases the cartridge belt and leaves it free to be moved downward. Then the operator by engaging the knob 65 and operating the pawl 58 can move the pawl to the position shown in Fig. 20, the awl in this position extending into the notci 15 in the wall of the guide channel 15 and engaging the cartridge at the front end of the belt. By moving the knob in the counter-clockwise direction the belt can be advanced into the guide channel 56, the pawl 58 moving through the slot 64 in the plate 55. By returning the pawl and engaging the belt at another position the said belt can be further advanced into the feed channel of the gun. The second movement of the pawl need not be through its full stroke;

and if the pawl is moved to its extreme upper position for the second movement it will reach the position shown in Fig. 2-1 when the end of the belt is in position to be engaged by the feed mechanism of the gun. With the belt in the position shown in Fig. 21 the gun is ready for operation in normal manner. It willbe understood that as firing proceeds the belt is drawn out of the magazine, the spool 9 rotating to permit this withdrawal. At the same time the pawl 58 follows the movement of the belt, being actuated by the-spring 66. The end of the pawl 58 has a movement approximately along the circular are indicated by a dot-and-dash line in Fig. 20, and it will be observed that at its extreme'inner position as shown in Fig. 19 it is out of contact with the feed belt.

In case of any jamming or other failure of the gun due to defective ammunition or for any other reason access to the feed mechanism of the gun can be obtained in the usual way by raising the cover 23. As already explained the magazine is mounted upon the cover and the magazine therefore moves -upward and forward with the cover to the position shown in Fig. 8. Inasmuch as the upper plate 55 of the guide channel 56 is also carried by the cover 23 the feed channel is opened at the same time and the portion of the belt in the channel offers no resistance to the upward movement of the magazine. slight twisting of the belt causes a portion thereof to move into the opening 52 which is provided for this purpose. With the parts in this position the feed mechanism and the forward parts of the belt are entirely exposed so that the gunner can do whatever is necessary to clear the gun and make ready for resumed firing. The detent 30 prevents the cover from being accidentally closed because of wind pressure or otherwise. Upon closing the cover 23the ma azine is returned to its normal position and at the same time the plate 55 is returned to its normal position thus bringing the feed belt back into itsalready described. The magazine can be re-- movedfrom the un, the projecting parts of the belt being at t e same time removed from the guide channel 56. It will be noted that as soon as the magazine is removed the pawl 16 automatically engages the belt to prevent any further withdrawal thereof from the magazine. 4 L

With a gun of the particular design illustrated 'the-lowerforward corner of the megazine engages the portion of the gun immediately in front of the pivot pin 24 when the cover is open. 1 By reason of this engagement the magazine'and the cradle 33 are swung upward slightly as, clearly shown in Fig. 8. Upon the return of the cover to its normal position the magazine and cradle would ordinarily return by gravity to their normal positions as shown in Fig. 7. However, in order to positively ensure the return to normal positions we provide the beforementioned pin 44 which enters the slot 54 in the flange 53 as already described. If the cradle and magazineshould fail to move downward by gravity upon the return of the cover 23 to its closed position the pin 44 would engage the upper end' of the slot 54 and would positively force the cradle and magazine downward as described. The pin has the further function of limiting any upward movement of the cradle about its pivotal axis.

-What we claim is:

1. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof comprising a casing having front and rear transverse end walls each with a central aperture therein and one of the said end walls being permanently connected with the cylindrical walls and the other constituting) a door movable to permit the magazine to e loaded, the said apertures in the end ivalls being of suflicient size to permit sighting of the gun therethrough when the magazine is in place thereon.

2. For an automatic machine gun haying a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof and comprising a casing having outer and inner cyllndrical walls and also front and rear transverse end walls each with a central aperture therein registering with the space within the inner cylindrical wall and one of the said end walls being permanently connected with the cylindrical walls and the other constituting a door movable to permit the magazine to bc loaded, the said apertures in the end walls being of sufficient size to permit sighting of the gun therethrough when the magazine is in place thereon.

3. For an automatic machine'gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof, the said magazine comprising in combination a casing having at least one transverse end wall with a central circular aperture therein, and a rotatable belt carrying spool having a central cylindrical aperture therein registering with the aperture in the end wall when the spool 1s in operative position in the casing, the two said apertures being of sufficient size to permit sighting of the gun therethrough when the magazine is in place thereon.

. 4. For an automatic machine un having a transverse feed channel theret rough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof, the said magazine comprising in combination a casing having front and rear transverse end walls each with a central circular aperture therein, the rear end Wall being movable to form a door, and a rotatable belt carrying spool having a central cylindrical aperture therein registering with the apertures in the end walls when the s 001 is in operative position in the casing, t me said a ertures in the end walls and spool being 0 sufiicient size to permit sighting of the gun therethrough when the magazine is in place thereon.

5. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridgebelt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof, the said magazine comprising in combination a casing having outer and inner cylindrical walls and having and walls closing the space between the said cylindrical walls, one of the end walls being movable to form a door, means forming a belt guide channel extending substantially tangentially from the outer cylindrical wall, and an annular belt carrying spool normally fitting between the said cylindrical casing walls, the said spool being rotatable to permit movement of the belt through the guide channel.

6. For an automatic machine gun having a. transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine comprising a casing having an outer cylindrical wall and at least one transverse end wall and adapted to be detachably mounted upon the gun at the top thereof with its axis parallel with the axis of the gun, and a belt carrying 'spool mounted within the casing for rotation about the casing axis, the said spool having two belt retaining flanges and one of the flanges havin a notch for enga ing a cartridge at the forward end of the elt.

7. For an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channeltherethrough for a cartridge belt, a cartridge magazine adapted to engage the gun at the top thereof, the said magazine comprising in combination a casing having at least one transverse end wall with a central circular aperture therein, and a rotatable belt carryin spool having a central cylindrical aperture tierein registering with the aperture in the end wall when the spool is in operative position in the casing, the said spool having two belt retaining flanges and one of the flanges having a notch for engaging a cartridge at the forward end of the belt.

8. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a'cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine normally detachably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said magazine being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and bein provided at one side with a guide channel t? the said belt associated with the said feed channel of the gun, means for releasably connecting the ma azine to the gun at the lower rear corner of the former to permit pivotal movement of the magazine about a transverse horizontal axis in the forward and downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, and a releasable latch cooperating with the said connecting means for holding the magazine in the said operative position.

9. The combination with an automatic inachine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine normally detachably mounted on the gun at the top thereof and adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt, the said magazine having alongitudinal aperture therein entirely surrounded b the belt containing space and being provi ed at one side with a guide channel for the said belt associated with the said feed channel of the gun, means for releasably connecting the ma azine to the gun at the lower rear corner 0 the former to permit pivotal movement of the maga zine above a trans erse horizontal axis in the forward and downward direction into its final operative position on the gun, and a releasable latch cooperating with the said connecting means for holding the magazine in the said operative position, the said latch the top thereof with its axis paralle with the axis of the un, a belt carrying s 001 mounted within t 'e casing for rotation it out the casing axis, and an' exit guide channel for a belt wound on the spool, the said guide channel being connected with the said cylindrical wall and extcndingdownward substantially tangentially of the periphery of the spoo 11. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine casing comprising an outer cylindrical wall and at least one transverse end wall and detachably mounted upon the gun at the top thereof with its axis parallel with the axis of the gun, a belt carrying spool mounted within the casing above the gun for rotation about the casing axis, an exit guide channel for a belt wound on the spool, the said guide channel being connected with the said cylindrical wall and extending downward substantially tangentially of the periphery of the s 001, and means carried by the gun indepen ently of the casing and forminga laterally extending guide channel registering with the feed channel of the gun and registering with the said guide channel of the magazine when the magazine is in operative position.

12. Thecombinationwith an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine normall detachably mounted on the gun at the top t ereof, the said magazine being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided with a guide channelcfor the belt at the side corresponding to the entrance end of the feed channel, means carried by the gun independently of the magazine and forming a laterally extending circularly curved guide channel registering with the feed channel of the gun and registering with the said guide channel of the magazine when the magazine is in operative position, and means carried by the gun and pivotally mounted to move longitudinally of the said guide channel on the gun for engaging and moving a cartridge belt in the said channel. a

13. The combination with a automatic machine gun having a. transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine normally detachably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said magazine being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt, means carried by the gun independently of the magazine and forming a laterally extending guide channel registering with the feed channel of the gun and communicating with the magazine when the magazine is in operative position, the said means including a plate forming the upper wall of the guide channel and mounted to be movable upward, and manually operable means bodily movable with the last said plate for engaging the feed belt to advance it through the said guide channel.

14. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt, of a cartridge magazine normally adapted to be detachably mounted on the gun at the top thereof, the said' n'iagazine being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt, connecting means 7 between the magazine and the gun permitting movement of the magazine relatively to the gun about a transverse horizontal axis, means carried by the gun independently of themagazine and forming a laterally extending guide channel registering with the feed channel of the gun and comn'iunicating with the magazine when the magazine is in operative position, the said means including a plate forming the upper wall of the guide channel and pivoted for upward movement about a transverse horizontal axis simultaneously with the pivotal movement of the magazine, and manually operable means bodily. movable with the last said plate for engaging the feed belt to advance it through the said guide channe 15. The combination with an automatic machine gun having a transverse feed channel therethrough for a cartridge belt and having a cover pivoted for upward movement about a transverse horizontal axis, of acartridge magazine normally detachably mounted on the gun cover'at the top thereof so as to be movable therewith, the said magazine being adapted to contain a cartridge feed belt and being provided with a guide channel for the belt at the side corresponding to the entrance end of the feed channel, means carried by the gun independently of the magazine and forming a laterally extending guide channel registering with the feed channel of the gun and registering with the said guide channel of the magazine when the magazine is in operative position, the said 'means including a plate {mining the upper wall ofcthe guide channel and carried by the gun cover, and manually operable means bodily movable with the last said plate for engaging the feed belt to advance it through the said guide channel.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 26th day of August 1927..

V CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER. FREDERICK T.-MOORE. 

